Advertising apparatus.



(No Model.)

Patented Nov. l4, I899. G. L. FARWELL. ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 7, 1898.)

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G. L. FARWELL.

ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. FARWELL, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO SIDNEY E. FARWELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,783, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed September 7, 1898- Serial No- 0 N0 mo m To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. FARWELL, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Advertising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in advertising signs, consisting of a series of traveling sections or boards, together with means for actuating the same, whereby a series of constantly-changing signs are brought into view.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved sign shown rotatably supported in a suitable framework. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof removed from the supporting framework and partially broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section- Fig. 4 is a horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the pivotal support for the traveling sections or boards, and Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for holding the boards in vertical position while being carried through the upper portion of the frame-.

In the drawings, A represents the signholding frame, and B the supporting-framework therefor. Secured in the framework B and extending above the same is a vertical shaft 2, upon which the frame Ais rotatably mounted by means of ball-bearings 3 and 4:. The bearing-case 4 is connected with the sides of the frame A by means of brace-rods 5 and is held from movement on the shaft 2 by means of collars 6. These bearings allow the frame to turn inthe wind, as hereinafter described. I

Within the frame A is arranged a series of horizontal boards 7, carried by the chain belts 8, which run over the sprockets 9 and 10, journaled, respectively, in the upper and lower portions of the frame. Said sign-boards are pivotally supported upon said chains by means of links ll, inserted in the chain at equal distances, said links being provided with wings 12, in which the sign-boards have pivotal support 13. Said wings are oflset, so that the sign-boards will swing freely between the chain belts upon opposite sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2. The chain belts are operated by the wind-wheel 14, mounted upon the horizontal shaft 15 and operating the gear-wheels 16 through the medium of the gear-pinions 17, the gear-wheels 16 being mounted upon the shafts of the upper chainsprockets.

In order to prevent swinging of the boards while traveling between the upper and lower sprockets, .I provide central guides 18 upon opposite sides of the frame, which will prevent the sign-boards swinging inward, and I further provide guides 19 upon the outside of the frame, which will prevent the sign-board swinging outward and which cover the belts and their sprockets.

In order to prevent the boards swinging backward when traveling between the upper sprockets, I provide disks 20, mounted upon shafts 21 in the sidesof the frame and operated by gears 22 and 23 intermeshing with the chain-operating gears 16. The disks 20 are each provided with a peripheral pin 24, adapted to fit in the notch 25 of the sign-board, passing between the upper sprockets, thus holding the boards from swinging backward. The gears which operate the disks 20 are of equal size with the gears 16, which operate the upper pinions of the driving-chains, thus causing the pins 24 upon the disks to be always held in contact with the lower edge of each sign-board passing between the upper sprockets. The boards are also so arranged that there is sufficient intermediate space to permit the tooth of the disk to be brought into contact with the boards. This feature is an important one of my invention, since without it the boards would be apt to swing backward, causing them to be crushed as they pass over the sprockets and begin to descend.

Among the particular ad vantages of my invention over other forms of advertising apparatus is the combination of horizontal and Vertical motion of the boards for the purpose of catching the eye and fixing the attention,

the construction and arrangement whereby Another advantage of my construction is that while the boards are passing from one side to the other of the frame signs upon both sides of such boards are visible, so that with a series of, say, eight boards ten signs will be presented to View, five from each side.

I claim 1. An apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination vertically-running endless carriers, a series of transverse signboards carried thereby, means for actuating said carriers, and means engaging said signboards to prevent the same swinging from a perpendicular position.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination vertically-running endless carriers arranged to run over suitable supporting sprockets or wheels, series of transversely-arrangcd sign-boards carried by said carriers, means for guiding the boards while being raised and lowered and means for preventing the swinging of said boards while passing around said sprockets.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the frame A having pivotal support on suitable framework B, of sprockets journaled near top and bottom of said frame, chain belts carried by said sprockets, sign-boards pivotally supported upon and intermediate of said belts, means for actuating said belts and means for holding said boards in perpendicular position while passing between the upper sprockets.

L. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the frame A, the sprocket having journal-support therein, the endless belts running over said sprockets pivotally supporting a series of transverse boards, the wind-wheel for actuating said gear and imparting a Vertical movement to said boards, the guides preventing outward swinging of said boards, and the toothed disks for engaging said boards and holding themin perpendicular position While passing between the upper sprockets.

5. In combination, a pair of endless carriers running in a substantially vertical plane, transverse boards intermediate of said carriers, each being pivoted thereto near its upper edge, whereby said boards are at all times pendent and parallel with the path of travel of the carriers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. FARW'ELL.

W'itnesses:

H. S. JOHNSON, ELGIE H. EVANS. 

